Hose for walls, floors, moquettes, carpets and the like cleaning machines

ABSTRACT

Hose for wall-, floor-, moquettes-, carpet- and the like cleaning machine, comprising at least one first rigid tubular member ( 2 ), having at least one air and liquid suction duct ( 3 ), and at least one steam or other fluid delivery duct ( 4 ). The ducts ( 3, 4 ) are connected to each other with their longitudinal axes (L, L′) in parallel relationship. The hose ( 1 ) is characterized in that it includes at least one second rigid tubular member ( 5 ), which is similar to the first one and has at least one air and liquid suction duct ( 6 ), and at least one steam or other fluid delivery to duct ( 7 ). The first and second tubular members ( 2, 5 ) are slidably and telescopically coupled to each other in such a manner as to allow arbitrary adjustment of the total extension of the hose ( 1 ). The suction ducts ( 3, 6 ), as well as the delivery ducts ( 4, 7 ) of the first and second tubular members ( 2, 5 ) are so sized as to allow the one to slide inside the other in a substantially fluid tight is manner. Each tubular member ( 2, 5 ) has an elongate protection member ( 8, 8 ′), for thermally insulating its respective delivery duct ( 4, 7 ) and prevent any direct contact therewith by users.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention finds application in the field of cleaning machines and particularly relates to a hose intended for use in machines for cleaning walls, floors, moquettes, carpets and the like.

STATE OF THE ART

A number of telescopic hose arrangements for vacuum cleaners and similar electrical appliances are known. Particularly, European Patent No. 1 092 383 describes a telescopic extension comprising an outer hose, a second hose sliding within the first hose and a device for locking the two hoses to each other, operable by means of a sliding device. This arrangement allows to adjust the length of the assembly formed by the two hoses. An apparent limitation thereof consist in that the two serially disposed hoses form a single duct and allow the passage of one fluid only.

European Patent No. 0 848 926 discloses a device for joining two vacuum cleaner hoses by means of a telescopic connection. Such an arrangement allows air to flow inside the assembly and also includes an extendible election cable for transmitting signals and power between the two hose portions. Like in the previous arrangement, the telescopic connection provides convenience and ease of use, however it does not allow the passage of an additional fluid, such as for instance steam.

European Patent No. 0 873 713 describes a one-piece rigid hose, comprising a suction duct and a delivery duct arranged externally to the suction duct. The delivery duct may be used to convey a cleaning fluid or liquid, such as steam, on the object or surface to be cleaned, whereas the suction duct may be employed to remove dust and dirt. A drawback of this arrangement consists in that the hose has a fixed length. Thus, the rigid hose cannot be readily extended to clean surfaces at the floor level or shortened to clean surfaces or objects which are situated closer to the user or in narrow places. An additional drawback of this arrangement is that the hose is made from one single piece. Hence, any damage or defect of one of the two ducts requires the replacement of the whole piece, thus resulting in increased service and repair costs.

European Patents No. 0 558 460, 0 601 981 and 1 122 482 describes a flexible hose designed for application in the field of cleaning machine, comprising a first duct for air suction and a second duct for delivering a cleaning liquid or fluid onto the surface to be cleaned. The flexible hose renders the overall machine easier to be used, as compared with a rigid hose, however has the limitation that its length is approximately fixed. In fact, in certain cases, the possibility to shorten or to extend the overall hose may facilitates cleaning operations in narrow spaces or over surfaces far from the user respectively.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A general object of the present invention is to obviate the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a reliable and cost-effective hose for cleaning machine.

A main object is to provide an effective and easy-to-use cleaner hose for cleaning objects and surfaces of different types.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a hose which is readily and conveniently adaptable to clean objects and surfaces at varying distances from the user, both in wide places and in narrow areas or corners.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a hose that can be handled safely, by avoiding any contact between the user and a locally overheated area, and any outflow of hot fluids.

Yet another particular object is to provide a strong hose, whose features remain unchanged overtime.

An additional particular object is to provide a hose whose parts may be easily assembled and replaced, in case of faults or malfunctioning.

These objects as well as other which will be more clearly hereinafter, are achieved by providing in accordance with claim 1, a hose for wall-, floor-, carpeting-, carpet- and the like cleaning machine, comprising at least one first rigid tubular member, having at least one air and liquid suction duct, and at least one steam or other fluid delivery duct, the ducts being reciprocally connected along their longitudinal and parallel axes, characterised in that it comprises at least one second rigid tubular member similar to the first tubular member and having at least one air and liquid suction duct and at least one steam or other fluid delivery duct, the two tubular ducts being slidably and telescopically coupled, in such a manner as to allow arbitrary adjustment of the overall hose extension.

Thanks to this particular configuration, an easy-to-use hose may be obtained for cleaning objects and surfaces of different types, which may be readily and conveniently adapted to clean objects and surfaces at varying distances from the user, both in wide places and in narrow areas or corners.

Preferably, each tubular member has an elongate protection member for thermally insulating its respective steam or other fluid delivery duct and preventing any direct contact therewith by users. Each protection member is disposed substantially parallel to its respective delivery duct and is substantially as long as the latter for fully heat insulating it from the environment.

Thanks to these particular features, the hose can be safely handled thus avoiding any contact between the user and a locally overheated area, and any outflow of hot fluids, regardless of the relative position of the two tubular members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages will be more clearly apparent from the detailed description of a few preferred, non-exclusive embodiments of a cleaner hose according to the invention, which are described by way of non-limiting examples with the assistance of the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a hose according to the invention, in a retracted condition;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a hose as shown in FIG. 1, in an extended condition;

FIG. 3 an enlarged fragmented view of the hose of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of a hose according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the above mentioned figures, a hose according to the invention is described, suitable for use in machines for cleaning walls, floors, carpeting, carpets and the like, which hose is generally designated by the reference numeral 1. Hose 1 comprises at least one first rigid tubular member 2 having at least one air and liquid suction duct 3, and at least one steam or other fluid delivery duct 4. These ducts 3, 4 have a substantially equal longitudinal extension and are reciprocally coupled. The longitudinal axis L of the suction duct 3 and the longitudinal axis L′ of the delivery duct 4 are substantially parallel.

Hose 1 is characterised in that it includes at least one second rigid tubular member 5, which is similar to the first and has at least one air and liquid suction duct 6, and at least one steam or other fluid delivery duct 7. The two tubular members 2, 5 are slidably and telescopically connected to each other in such a manner as to allow arbitrary adjustment of the overall extension of the hose 1. Suction duct 6 is coaxial to suction duct 3 and delivery duct 7 is coaxial to delivery duct 4.

One of the two tubular members 2, 5, for instance the first, which is designated by the reference numeral 2, may have suction and delivery ducts 3, 4 with inner diameters substantially equal to or greater than the outside diameters of the corresponding suction and delivery ducts 6, 7 of the second tubular member 5. This arrangement allows the two suction and delivery ducts 3, 4 of the tubular member 2 to slidably accommodate therein the two suction and delivery ducts 6, 7 of the second tubular member 5.

Suction ducts 3, 6 of the two tubular members 2, 5 are so sized as to allow the one to slide inside the other in a substantially fluid-tight manner. Similarly, the delivery ducts 4, 7 are so sized as to slide inside one other in a substantially fluid-tight manner.

Each of the two tubular members 2, 5 has an elongate protection member 8, 8′ substantially parallel to its respective steam or other fluid delivery duct 4, 7. Such protection members 8, 8′ provide thermal insulation of the two delivery ducts 4, 7 and prevent the latter from being directly touched by users. The protection members 8, 8′ may have a substantially U-shaped cross-section.

Suitably, the protection member 8 encloses the delivery duct 4 of the tubular member 2, whereas the protection member 8′ encloses the delivery duct 7 of the second tubular member 5, which is slidably housed inside the tubular member 2. In a particular embodiment, the protection member 8′ is removably linked to a longitudinal end of the second tubular member 5 and may slide inside the tubular member 2, between the protection member 8 and the delivery duct 4. Conversely, the protection member 8 may be removably linked to the tubular member 2 in one or more positions.

Each protection member 8, 8′ is substantially as long as its respective delivery duct 4, 7, and covers the whole extension thereof. Hence, both delivery ducts 4, 7 are thermally insulated from the environment regardless of the relative position of the two tubular members 2, 5.

Appropriate removable link means 9 are provided to connect suction duct 3 and delivery duct 4 of tubular member 2. Suction duct 6 and delivery duct 7 of the second tubular member 5 are removably connected by appropriate link means 10. These link means 9, 10 are positioned at least at one longitudinal end of the suction ducts 3, 6 and the delivery ducts 4, 7. Advantageously, link means 10 are positioned at one longitudinal end only of the second tubular member 5, whereas the other ends of the suction and delivery ducts 6, 7 are free, to allow mutual sliding of the two tubular members 2, 5.

Suction ducts 3, 6 and delivery ducts 4, 7 of at least one of the two tubular members 2, 5 are equipped with gas and/or liquid sealing members. Such sealing means 11 include at least one or more elastic rings 12, placed in appropriate annular seats 13 of the suction ducts 3, 6 and of the delivery ducts 4, 7. In a particular embodiment, such annular seats 13 are formed on the outer surface of the suction ducts 6 and delivery ducts 7 of the second tubular member 5 close to its longitudinal ends.

Suitably, sealing members 11 may include a lip seal 14, positioned at one longitudinal end of delivery ducts 4, 7. Lip seal 14 is shaped in such a manner as to allow expansion thereof, as well as to provide a sealing action, caused by the pressure inside delivery ducts 4, 7.

Tubular members 2, 5 include locking means 15 adapted to selectively lock mutual sliding thereof. These selective locking means 15 include a plurality of substantially equally spaced recesses 16, which are evenly arranged over one of the two tubular members 2, 5, to allow both to be locked in predetermined relative positions.

Locking means 15 further include a linear slider 17, which is linked to one of the two tubular members 2, 5 and at least one stop member 18 engageable recesses 16 of the other of the two tubular members 2, 5 and is selectively lockable by the linear slider 17.

During operation, in order to adjust the length of hose 1 it is necessary to first unlock stop member 18 by linear slider 17. Then, stop member 18 can be released from recesses 16 and hose 1 may be adjusted to the desired length, by manually displacing the two tubular members 2, 5 in the axial direction. The new longitudinal extension of hose 1 may be locked again by using linear slider 17, which pushes and locks stop member 18 into recess 16.

From the foregoing it is apparent that hose 1 according to the invention achieves the intended objects and particularly allows to provide an easy-to-use device for cleaning objects and surfaces of different types, which may be readily and conveniently adapted to clean objects and surfaces at different distances from the user, both in wide places and in narrow areas or corners.

The cleaner hose of the present invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and changes or variants, within the inventive concept disclosed in the appended claims. All the details thereof may be replaced by other technically equivalents, and the materials may vary depending on different needs, without departing from the scope of the invention.

While the hose has been described with particular reference to the accompanying figures, the numerals referred to in the disclosure and claims are only used for the sake of a better intelligibility of the invention and shall not be intended to limit the claimed scope in any manner.

The instant application is based upon and claims priority of patent application No. V12002A000114, filed on 30.05.2003 in Italy, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated here in reference thereto. 

1. A hose for wall-, floor-, moquettes-, carpet- and the like cleaning machines, comprising at least one first rigid tubular member, having at least one air and liquid suction duct, and at least one steam or other fluid delivery duct, said ducts being reciprocally coupled with their longitudinal axes in substantially parallel relationship, characterised in that it comprises at least one second rigid tubular member similar to the first tubular member having at least one air and liquid suction duct and at least one steam or other fluid delivery duct, said first and said second tubular members being slidably and telescopically coupled, in such a manner as to allow any adjustment of the overall extension of the hose.
 2. Hose as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said suction ducts of said first and second tubular members are so sized as to allow the one to slide inside the other in a substantially fluid-tight manner.
 3. Hose as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said delivery ducts of said first and second tubular members are so sized as to allow the one to slide inside the other in a substantially fluid-tight manner.
 4. Hose as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each of said tubular members has an elongate protection member, for thermally insulating its respective steam of other fluid delivery duct and prevent any direct contact therewith by users.
 5. Hose as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that each elongate protection member has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to its respective delivery duct.
 6. Hose as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that each elongate protection member is substantially as long as its respective delivery duct to wholly cover and thermally insulate the latter from the environment, regardless of the relative position of said first and second tubular members.
 7. Hose as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each tubular member, said suction duct and said delivery duct are connected to each other by suitable removable link means.
 8. Hose as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said removable link means are positioned at least at one longitudinal end of said suction ducts and delivery ducts.
 9. Hose as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said suction ducts and delivery ducts of at least one of said tubular members are equipped with gas and/or liquid sealing members.
 10. Hose as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that said sealing means include at least one or more elastic rings, placed in appropriate annular seats of said suction ducts and of the delivery ducts.
 11. Hose as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that said sealing members include a lip seal, which is positioned at one longitudinal end of said delivery ducts and is so shaped as to allow expansion thereof, and to provide a sealing action caused by the pressure inside the delivery ducts.
 12. Hose as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said first and said second tubular members include locking means adapted to selectively lock mutual sliding of said first and second tubular members.
 13. Hose as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that said selective locking means of said first and second tubular members are so shaped as to allow locking of said first and second tubular members in predetermined mutual positions.
 14. Hose as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that said selective locking means include a linear slider, which is linked to one of said tubular members, and a stop member operable by said linear slider and engageable in a plurality of substantially equally spaced recesses, uniformly arranged on the other of said tubular members.
 15. Hose as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that each of said tubular members has an elongate protection member, for thermally insulating its respective steam of other fluid delivery duct and prevent any direct contact therewith by users.
 16. Hose as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that each of said tubular members has an elongate protection member, for thermally insulating its respective steam of other fluid delivery duct and prevent any direct contact therewith by users.
 17. Hose as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that each tubular member, said suction duct and said delivery duct are connected to each other by suitable removable link means.
 18. Hose as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that each tubular member, said suction duct and said delivery duct are connected to each other by suitable removable link means.
 19. Hose as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that each tubular member, said suction duct and said delivery duct are connected to each other by suitable removable link means.
 20. Hose as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that each tubular member, said suction duct and said delivery duct are connected to each other by suitable removable link means. 